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Warning: Some readers may find the sexually graphic nature of this article disturbing.

SHERMAN OAKS (CBSLA.com) — A male nurse has been accused of committing a sex act on a corpse at Sherman Oaks Hospital, authorities reported Monday.

Officers were called Sunday night to the hospital, where security guards had 61-year-old Alejandro Razo in custody, LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said.

“The call indicated that a deceased patient had somehow been violated by an employee of the hospital,” Neiman said.

The Reseda resident was placed under arrest on a state Health and Safety Code violation because the body was deceased.

“It’s a very sensitive case because you’re dealing with somebody who is deceased, who’s a loved one of somebody, who really couldn’t even fight back, so it’s our job to fight back for them,” Neiman said.

Committing an act of necrophilia wasn’t deemed a crime in the state of California until 2004. If convicted of the felony, the nurse faces up to three years in prison.

Razo has posted his $20,000 bail.

CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Juan Fernandez visited Razo’s home Monday night. It appeared as if someone was home but no one answered the door.

A longtime neighbor who didn’t want to be identified said Razo is a quiet man with a wife and two children.

Calls to Sherman Oaks Hospital were not returned.

“Our homocide investigators from Van Nuys are going to continue this investigation. We don’t know if there have been prior acts before this one, so those are things they’re going to look into and, really, fully investigate this case as well,” Neiman said.